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This page is about three educational schools located in the second largest island in the Philippines, called Mindanao.The man known as the "Father of Private Education in Mindanao was a pioneer in the secondary and college education in the area as early as the 1930's.Thousands of youth from the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Sur, would not have obtained secondary education or a college education had it not been for the pioneering spirit of Aurelio M. Mendoza who came to Mindanao in 1930 with a B.S.E. diploma from the University of the Philippines. When he arrived in Mindanao, he and his newly wed wife, Corona, had seven pesos and a "baul" full of personal belongings. After forty years of dedication to education and hardwork, which undoubtedly contributed to his success, he founded secondary and collegiate educational institutions in the remote communities for the purpose of providing education for illiterate population in Southern Mindanao during the American Commonwealth period. Aurelio M. Mendoza,as a man of christian orientation, and a preacher, he believed that serving one's fellowmen is corollary to serving God and country.
In 1930, he served as high school principal in a private institution, owned by the Feliciano family, at Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. Due to his ardous obsession of establishing secondary and collegiate educational institutions, he recommended to the Board of Directors of the Kolambugan Academy to transfer the school to Ozamis, Misamis Occidental which was fast growing community at the time. His proposal was unanimously approved by the members of the Board. He became a stockholder and co-founder of the Misamis Institute of the Misamis Institute in Ozamis which opened during the school year 1931-1932. This institution gained a reputation for quality education in the area until it was elevated to the status of a college, which later became the Misamis University.
His educational career was interrupted by the outbreak of WW11. He served as Captain in the U.S. Army and later retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was elected President of the Southern Mindanao Institute in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur in 1945. During his incumbency as SMC President, Aurelio M. Mendoza embarked on a program of school expansion providing educational opportunities to the youth in many parts of the Pagadian Penisula (Zamboanga del Sur), Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis and Lanao provinces. First, in his capacity as Executive Secretary and founder of the Misamis Institute;second, as SMC President who became a stockholder of the school. In 1946, he establlished a sister school of the Misamis Institute in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental which he named the Southern Capital Institute and later became the Southern Capital College in 1959. Today the college offers Elementary, High School, Commerce, Liberal Arts, Secretarial Science and a Masteral Program in Education.
In his capacity as SMC President, he elevated the school in to a college and had the distinction of being the first institution in the area to offer degree courses in Law, Accounting, Graduate level, and Secretarial Science. Working closely with leading colleges and universities in the country, the Southern Mindanao Colleges became a member of the Philippine Association of Christian Schools and Colleges (ASCSC), and the Association of Graduate Education (PAGE). In 1948, his vision of educational expansion started when he established the Kapatagan Institute in Lanao del Norte. Again, he opened the Kauswagan Junior College in the same province. Almost simultaneously, he founded the Salug Valley Institute which later became the Dumaliano Junior College. This school was transferred to Buug, Zamboanga del Sur and was renamed St. Paul Academy. His exemplary dedication to the service of education was further extended when he was elected Board Member of the Liberation Institute in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.
During the school year 1956-1957, Aurelio M. Mendoza opened the Tambulig Junior College in Zamboanga del Sur. This school was renamed Ramon Magsagsay Memorial Institute in memory of the late President Magsaysay who died on a plane crush in Cebu in 1957, the year the school was founded. He pioneered the establishment of a school in Aurora Zamboanga del Sur which he named Nueva Aurora Memorial College. Then he founded again the Lyceum of the South in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur. When he died in 1977 the Lyceum of the South was renamed Dr. Aurelio M. Mendoza Memorial College as a dedication to his memory, achievement and contribution to education. The renowned educator left behind four successful children, two sons and two daughters. Two of them are now residing in the United States.
Through all these years, Aurelio M. Mendoza always believed that education is a continuous process. Thus, he obtained the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Education, University of the Philippines where he graduated with high honors in 1929. Master of Arts in Education, National University, 1949; Bachelor in Laws, Misamis College, 1950; Doctor of Education Blackwell College, U.S.A., 1965: Doctor of Divinity, D.D.(honoris Causa), Ambassador Bible College, U.S.A. , 1973.
As a family man, he imbibed in his children the Christian virtues and discipline based upon the teaching of the Holy Bible. He always taught them that "triumph is always a reward of sacrifices". In social and civic involvement, he was a distinguished member of the Knight of Rizal. as a Regional Commander of the organzation, he spearheaded the organization of KR chapters in America and in Mindanao. He was an active member of the Philippine Achievement Dynamic, Masonic Fraternity, the Veteran Legion of the Philippines, Capital Christian Leadership and other prestigious organization in Japan, United States, and his native country.
Aurelio M. Mendoza contributed further to the economic development of the community when he founded the Philippines Mutual Benefit Relief Association (PMBRA), a saving and loan association whose aim was to give financial assistance to members who were engaged in small scale industries. He was also the prime organizer of the Private Schools Athleteic Association (PRISSA) in Western Mindanao.
As a military man, he was the Provost Marshall of Pagadian and the first Commanding Officer of the Military Police command in Dumagoc. He was responsible for the transfer of the Philippine Constabulary camp from Dumagoc to its present site in Camp Abelon (Rillera, 1974).
As a Church Minister, he was the founder of the Evangelical Church of Christ of the Philippines based in Ozamis City. Hence, Aurelio M. Mendoza was elected Bishop-General Superindentent of the Evangelical Church of Christ in the Country. When he was in the United States, he was the Minister of evangelism and counselling in the University Christian Church, serving Starkville and Mississippi State University.
Source: The Local Heroes of western Mindanao, a project of DECS Regional Office 1X-DECS. Zamboanga City. |
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The three collegiate schools are Southern Capital Colleges, located in the city of Oroquieta, Southern Mindanano Colleges, in Pagadian City and Dr Aurelio M Mendoza Memorial College in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur. The founder of these institutions was the late Col. Aurelio M Mendoza, an educator, born again christian and a freedom fighter during the Second World War. He was a native of Santa Maria, Bulacan. He was born on October 15, 1907 to a middle income family.He finished his elementary education in Santa Maria, Bulacan; secondary education at Manila North HS in 1922. He was a self-supporting student serving as a houseboy of a Protestant Missionary, who taught illiterate how to read in the remote areas of the Philippines, Dr. Frank C. Lauback. He graduated valedictorian in 1926 from Union HS. Obtained his BSE at the UP where he graduated with high honors in 1929.
Before he died in 1977, Aurelio M. Mendoza was chosen as one of the "Most Outstanding Personalities in the Philippines" in 1975 featured in the ASEAN JOURNAL. January, 1976 issue, entitled, "Aurelio M. Mendoza, Pioneer in Education in Southern Mindanao.
